The European Middle Ages

1. The European Middle Ages 800 – 1200 A.D.

2. SSWH7: The student will analyze European medieval society with regard to culture, politics, society, and economics • Explain the manorial system and feudalism; include the status of peasants and feudal monarchies, to include Charlemagne. (pages 358 – 363, 374) • Describe the political impact of Christianity, to include Pope Gregory VII and King Henry IV. (pages 371 – 372, 374, 379) • Explain the role of the church in medieval society. (pages 370 – 374) • Describe how increasing trade led to the growth of towns and cities. (pages 389 – 391, 404)

3. Background Information Also known as, this is where we left off when we finished with Rome . . .

4. The New Germanic Kingdoms • Ostrogoths in Italy • Kept structure of the imperial Roman government • Ostrogoths ruled by own officials and laws • Native Italians ruled by Roman officials and laws • Visigoths in Spain • Roman and German population began to fuse into one • Britain • Roman influence not as strong • Angles and Saxons divided area into many kingdoms

5. The Kingdom of the Franks • Clovis • @ 500 A.D. Clovis becomes a Christian • Creates the Frankish empire • Close association with the Roman Catholic Church gives him more power • @ 510 controlled area from Pyrenees Mountains to the area past the Rhine River • Divided into three kingdoms after his death (one for each son)

6. Germanic Society • Based around extended family system • Land passed down from generation to generation • Roman law said crime was against the state • Germanic law said crime was against the family • Violent feuds (hey, doesn’t this look like an important word we have to know for this unit?)

7. Ok, now the important stuff Charlemagne, Feudalism, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Holy Roman Empire

8. The Carolingian Empire • Frankish kingdoms had lost power during the late 7th & early 8th centuries • Charles Martel • Added territories • Defeated Muslim Empire at Tours (732 A.D.) • Pepin the Short – took kingship of Frankish states away from mayors • 768 – Pepin’s son Charlemagne takes over • A.k.a. = Charles the Great • A.k.a. = Carolus magnus in Latin • A.k.a. is so important that the histories of France and Germany claim him as one of their great leaders • Expanded Frankish kingdom and created the Carolingian Empire

9. Charlemagne (768 – 814) • Great military leader • Gave counts control of areas of his empire (counties) • Missi dominici – messengers that reported on the actions of the counts • Christmas Day 800 A.D. given title of Emperor of all Romans by Pope Leo III • Brought together Roman, Christian, and Germanic civilizations • Intellectual Renewal • Need for intellectual leaders of the church and government • Carolingian Era – study of classical Greek and Latin • Monks copied classical text (@ 90 % of what we have today)

10. Invasions of the Middle Ages • Carolingian Empire went down after Charlemagne’s death in 814 • Muslims • Spain and Southern Europe • Battle of Tours 732 A.D. • Magyars (western Asia) • Norsemen (Vikings) • Great warriors • Great ship builders (long ships) • Leif Ericson • Conversion to Christianity

12. Feudalism • Lack of central leadership or protection for the people • Carolingian empire dissolves • Invasions by Muslims, Magyars, and Vikings • Feudalism • New political and military system • Landed Lords who provided protection • Vassals (vassalage) – knights who swore an oath to serve their lord, foundation of the feudal system

13. Feudalism • Nobles give land to vassals in return for military service • Changes in the military • Originally foot soldiers dressed in coats of mail • Introduction of larger horses and the stirrup • Now heavily armed knights on horseback • Knights become heart of European aristocracy

14. Feudalism • Being a vassal was expensive, required land • Fief – piece of land that was given by a lord to a vassal • Subinfeudation – vassals giving fiefs to other vassals • Feudalism spread throughout Europe (also found in Japan and Mexico)

15. Nobility • Lords = kings, dukes, counts, barons, bishops, and archbishops • Created an aristocracy with political, economic, and social power • Lords were “men of war” • Catholic Church – “Peace of God” and “Truce of God” evolved into idea of chivalry • Chivalry – code of ethics for knights

17. Women in the Middle Ages • Aristocratic Women • Mostly under control of fathers or husbands • Could be willed property (rare) • Often had to manage the household while men were away at war • Overlook supplies of the house • Eleanor of Aquitaine (page 394) • Peasant Women • Poor and powerless • Confined to household work

18. Organization of the Christian Church • Pope (Latin word papa or father) • Head of Roman Catholic Church • 1st Pope was Peter • Cardinals = Bishops of Rome, Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch • Archbishops • Controlled all the bishoprics of a Roman province • Bishops • Bishopric (diocese) – authority over city and its surrounding area • Gregory I – strengthened power of the pope in the late 6th century

19. Monks • Monk • lived a life cut off from human society to find a closer relationship with God • Monasticism • to live like a monk • Monastic communities developed around Europe, attracted by the simple religious life • Saint Benedict (480 – 543) set rules for monastic living (Benedictine) • Gave rules for daily activities • Work and prayer major emphasis • Abbots controlled monasteries • Sister Scholastica (first nun of Benedictine order)

20. Importance of Monasteries • Provided schools • Allowed travelers to stay • Cared for the sick • Copied Latin works (preserved ancient works) • Converted pagans to Christianity • Women (nuns) • Abbesses

22. The Church’s Authority during the Middle Ages • Pope was the spiritual leader of Western Europe (Emperors or kings were the secular) • Church structure much like Feudal structure • Religion unified the different people in the different classes • The sacraments (every Christian needed to follow) • Church Law (canon law) • Guided the rich and poor in regards to marriage and religious practices • Excommunication = denied salvation by being kicked out of the church • Interdict = sacraments and religious services not allowed in a kings land (why would this be a big deal?)

23. Otto I creates the Holy Roman Empire • 936 Otto the Great crowned king of medieval Germany • Consolidated power and helped the pope, crowned emperor in 962 • Otto’s attempt to recreate Charlemagne’s empire led to the Holy Roman Empire • Church worried that Emperors had too much power over the church

24. Emperors vs Popes • Lay investiture = kings & nobles appoint church officials • 1075 – Pope Gregory VII banned lay investiture • 1077 – Emperor Henry IV tells Gregory VII to step down from the papacy, Gregory excommunicated Henry • 1122 Concordat of Worms = church sole power to choose bishops (emperor could veto) • 1190 – Holy Roman Empire falls apart

25. Commercial Revolution